Brazil has been making the world news headlines for the past several months, but mostly for all the wrong reasons--- the Zika virus epidemic, its worst recession in decades and the high-level corruption scandal involving its government officials.

And now, the Brazilians are bracing for yet another political tumult brought about by the potential impeachment of the country's highest-ranking leader, President Dilma Rousseff. She has been accused of rigging public accounts to cover-up a growing budget deficit.

Rousseff's Woes Are Only Worsening

The Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) will make up its mind on whether to bolt out of its coalition with Rousseff's administration as it holds voting on Tuesday, March 29, during its national leadership meeting. PMDB official and Tourism Minister Henrique Eduardo Alvesa also announced his resignation on Monday.

The PMDB is Brazil's biggest political party and severing its ties with the ruling party could have a huge impact on Rousseff's impeachment. The president would need a third of the members of the lower house to oppose the impeachment and avoid facing a trial in the Senate, wherein she would be suspended at the start of the process.

De Lula Believes the President Can Block Off Impeachment

Rousseff's predecessor and ally from the Workers Party, ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is still optimistic that Rousseff can find a way to get through this political mess and avoid impeachment.

Lula da Silva, who is known as the most influential and well-known Brazilian politician, made this pronouncement, despite the impending break up between their ruling party and the PMDB.

He added that he will try his best to convince Vice-President Michel Temer, who also happens to be the highest leader of the Democratic Movement, to throw his support behind the president. "No one likes to support an administration that is not doing well with public opinion," Silva said. "But we need to keep talking to" the Democratic Movement.

He also said that the removal of Rousseff from office is unlawful and goes against the electorate's mandate. "An impeachment without legal basis is a coup," he said. "These are excuses and fake arguments to shorten the term of the person who won the elections."

Lula da Silva was just recently appointed by Pres. Rousseff's as her chief of staff in a move that critics believe is a way to evade prosecution. Brazilian authorities are investigating the former president on his alleged link to the corruption scandal at the state-run Petrobras oil company.

The appointment was challenged and brought before a court, and a decision is expected to come out in the coming days.

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